After winning both games in an away doubleheader against Parsons Tuesday night, the A Iola Indians found themselves on the diamond again on Wednesday.
The Indians traveled 30 miles north to take on Garnett in another American Legion doubleheader. Iola split the doubleheader with a dramatic comeback 8-7 win the first game, and a heartbreaking 4-5 loss in extra innings.
Garnett struck first in the bottom-half of the second inning to put Iola in a one-run hole, but the Indians would respond. Drake DeLaTorre started the third inning reaching base on an error from Garnetts shortstop. Nathan Louk and Ryker Curry each reached on singles to move DeLaTorre over to third. Drake Sellmans ripped a line drive to left field to score DeLaTorre as the Indians tied it back up 1-1.
Louk manned the mound for Iola, allowing three earned runs in three innings of work while collecting only two strikeouts. The bottom-half of the fourth inning saw Garnett retake the lead with the Muddogs bringing four runs across home plate to put Iola in a 1-5 hole.
The Indians powered right back. DeLaTorre kicked off the fifth inning with a double to deep left-center field, and Louk followed with a double of his own to score DeLaTorre. Curry reached first on a walk, and the Indians loaded the bases after Sellman reached on an error from the Garnett third baseman to load the bases. The Indians brought home three more runs to tie the game at 5-5.
Curry came in to relieve Louk and went the rest of the way for Iola. The Register nominee for Allen County Area June Athlete of the Month went four innings, allowing two runs to go along with seven strikeouts. Those two runs came over the course of two innings, as Iola was down to their last three outs. Once again, the Indians once again fought back.
Iola loaded the bases in the seventh and final inning of game. Trevor Church worked the count and ended being sent his way to first on walk, bringing Riley home. With two outs, Louk launched a line drive to right field which was mishandled by Garnetts right fielder and brought home two Indians to give Iola their first lead of the game 8-7. The score stood at 8-7.
The one run lead was all Curry needed. Iolas ace struck out all three Maddog batters to complete the comeback in dramatic fashion handing Iola the game 1 win.
We scrapped, head coach Troy Smith said. We were as scrappy tonight as weve been all season. I felt that we were never out of the game tonight. We kept coming back and they kept coming back and Im super proud of us. Especially in the atmosphere we were playing in, and they played phenomenal.
GAME TWO saw similar thrills return. The Indians first three runs came courtesy of runners being walked across home plate, giving Iola a 3-2 lead after three innings.
Iola added another run to their lead in the top of the fourth. Louk started the inning with a line-drive single to left field, and Curry followed with an infield pop up. Sellman singled to centerfield to score Louk and earn the first Indian RBI of the game. Garnett would tack on another run in the bottom-half of the fourth to narrow the score to 4-3 Iola.
No insurance runs came Iolas way in the fifth inning, which became a key factor. The Indians were one out away from victory when Church mishandled a one-hopper in right field, leading to the game tying run. Extra innings were on the table.
Iola would fail to score in the sixth inning and ultimately fall in extras after a walk-off single in the bottom half of the inning driven down the first base line.
Trevor (Church) is a great kid and amazing young player, Smith said. He is going to go a long way. Right now, a play like that really doesnt matter and didnt decide the game. That was a tough hard-hit ball that got by him. He gave us quality at bats, and the last four nights he has been great. That is just baseball.
The Indians are 3-1 so far this week and still have a home doubleheader this Friday at Riverside Park against Emporia at 6 p.m. after Garnett cancelled the rematch for Friday.
We picked up Emporia, who is in our zone, Smith emphasized. It will be nice to get a look at them before zone because we wouldnt have gotten that opportunity. And we will be fully loaded again, and I will have my full team back. We played this week without a couple starters, three starters actually, so we will be fully loaded. We want to get locked in these last couple weeks heading into zone so we win zone and go to state.
